Pet blessing to open festivities in homage to St. Francis of Assisi

GENERAL TRIAS CITY, Cavite – The Roman Catholic Church clergy here has called on pet owners and pet lovers for the annual pet animal blessing dubbed “Paialahay – Pabinyagan ng Alagang Hayop” starting 7 a.m. on Sunday (Sept. 30) at the City Plaza as homage to St. Francis of Assisi as the acclaimed patron saint lover of the animals.

Rev. Father Oliver Genuino, parish priest of St. Francis of Assisi Church, said the “pet baptism” serves as prelude for the City Fiesta celebration slated Oct. 4 in reverence to the city’s patron saint.

"Hinihikayat ko po ang lahat ng may mga alagang hayop dito sa ating lungsod na tayo ay magsama-sama at dalhin ang kani-kanilang mga alagang hayop para mabendisyunan ng 'Banal na Tubig' sa pagdiriwang ng Kapistahan ni Tata Kiko (I am inviting all pet owners in the city to join us and bring their pets for the blessing of the “Holy Water” in celebration of the Feast of “Tata Kiko”)," Fr. Genuino said in an interview.

The prelate said the consecration of the pet animals is in partnership with the city government, led by Mayor Antonio Ferrer, and the Team GenTri to highlight responsible pet ownership in reverence to how St. Francis is venerated as patron saint of animals and the natural environment.

As one of the most venerated Catholic religious figures in history, St. Francis de Assisi’s feast on Oct. 4 is marked by the Catholic and Anglican churches with the customary blessing of animals.

The GenTri Agriculture Office will also conduct its free anti-rabies vaccination to all pet dogs and cats after the pet blessing in observance of the “World Rabies Day”.

The city government advised motorists and travelers to take alternate routes to avoid the heavy traffic expected on Oct. 2 for the “Fiesta Caracol 2018, ” where scores of parishioners and devotees gather for the festive religious street dance-parade and another crowd-drawing event of the “Grand Pasayo,” a convergence of local brass bands from Cavite towns and cities and their musical show at the city plaza grounds.

In nearby Noveleta town, the local government’s Animal Bite and Treatment Center (NABTC) also celebrated Friday the “World Rabies Day” themed “Pet ko, Bet ko” with a parade of pet dogs and cats around town.

"Maraming salamat ho sa lahat ng nakibahagi sa unang taon ng ating programang 'Pet ko, Bet ko' a pet dog and cat parade at ang libreng anti-rabies vaccines sa ating mga alagang hayop (We thank all of “Pet Ko, Bet Ko” program parade participants and their pet dogs and cats and for the free anti-rabies vaccines for our pets),” Noveleta Mayor Dino Reyes Chua said.

Chua assured his constituents to make the celebration a yearly event to intensify awareness and rabies education and responsible pet ownership.

"Nakikiusap din po ako sa mga pet owners, paki tali o ikulong ang mga alagang aso o pusa, para di po magkalat ng basura sa ating lugar (I am also appealing to our pet owners to use dog or cat leash or keep them properly in cages to avoid strewn garbage in our locality),” he added.

Chua, along with town Councilors Davey Chua and Leah Olidan-Balen, and the Municipal Agriculture Office also spearheaded the free anti rabies vaccination for pets at the municipal hall lobby.

Hundreds of pets from the town’s 16 local barangays benefited from the free anti-rabies vaccination program. (Dennis Abrina/PNA)

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